The Red Cross announced a national blood shortage on September 11, 2023, after events such as Hurricane Idalia caused the need for donations to rise and the rates of donations to drop. The months of August and September usually experience a minor shortage each year due to back-to-school activities. However, the numerous crises seen in 2023 have depleted the national supply of donated blood. Multiple blood drives across the United States have been canceled due to dangerous weather-related issues, especially in the Southeast. The national blood supply has dropped 25% since early August, leaving the nation with “a critically low blood supply level” (The Red Cross). 

The shortage is unfortunately expected to worsen as the 2023 hurricane season continues in the Eastern United States and the demand for donations is expected to increase due to potential injuries. The Red Cross has drastically increased advertisements for blood donations as well as blood drive requests throughout the United States. An estimated 10,000 donations of blood products are required in order to replenish the national supply. It is necessary that the nation’s blood supply is maintained as it is vital to the survival of patients who are battling diseases such as sickle cell disease. Platelet donations are in demand too as they are needed for patients who are undergoing treatments for cancer. It is estimated that every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood (The Red Cross). People of all blood types are being urged to give a donation to aid the efforts of replenishing the nation’s blood and reversing the shortage.